Over one hundred people packed Writhlington Village Hall on Monday evening this week to voice their opinions on the as-yet unsubmitted plan for 160 homes behind St Mary’s School and the Writhlington allotments.

The size of this application has been described as something which could change the face of the village forever, and the strength of feeling from residents was apparent. Chaired by Steve Beck and attended by Radstock Town Councillors, Nick Toogood, Rob Langley, who both represent Writhlington ward, and Cllr Bruce Shearn, villagers were able to put forward their opinions on issues such as infrastructure, the environment, flooding, safety and more.

As a result of the meeting, a Working Committee will be formed, made up of interested residents to begin their opposition to the plans. Chair of the meeting, Steve Beck, said: “We all have concerns for this development, but this meeting is an opportunity for all to voice them. We hope to invite senior planners in B&NES, the applicant and developer for follow-up meetings as this progresses.”

There was much talk of the Local Plan, which B&NES is currently consulting on, which will shape planning applications in our area in future. Much was made of infrastructure, with residents saying more services are needed; including better buses, access to doctors, dentists and schools. In 2006, Persimmon tried and failed to build 300 homes on this site, reportedly deterred by the cost of having to remodel Church Hill and Green Parlour Road, which is currently under discussion for dangerous speeds and rat-running.

Radstock Town Councillor and Chair of the Town Council’s Planning Committee, Bruce Shearn, earned rousing applause as he addressed the meeting. He said: “If I were you, I wouldn’t give these developers an inch. This is a Greenfield site, and I will be voting against this every single time. Radstock has had lots of housing on Brownfield sites. Enough is enough.”

Cllr Shearn added Writhlington had taken enough housing with 54 homes at Knobsbury Lane and others feared that it could lose its village status, should Writhlington be subjected to more housing on this scale. One resident, who has lived in the village for 27 years, said: “I get up every morning and think wow, what a place to live. I do not want to look out of my window and see all of the wildlife replaced by houses in my garden.”

Other discussions included compulsary purchase orders on local brownfield sites, the development of Welton, Bibby and Baron to offload housing pressures, drainage, pollution and air quality.

There were also calls for more for young people to do in the village, with a suggestion that the village hall be opened up one night a week for a youth club. One resident spoke of a growing drug problem in Writhlington, and said: “People won’t talk about it, but it needs to be discussed,” adding drug dealing was taking places in broad daylight on Writhlington’s green spaces. Affordable housing was also a hot topic, with residents asking how it could be guaranteed for local people.

With the Working Committee due to be set up, residents are beginning to make a plan to try and stop the development. Cllr Shearn added: “Organise yourselves and fight all the way – the Town Council is right behind you.”